Yesterday, David Lammy joined Joanne McCartney, Labour GLA candidate for Enfield and Haringey (who has represented the constituency for the last four years) on a walkabout with members of South Tottenham’s Charedi community, to emphasise the importance voting in the London Elections on May 1st to keep the far-right British National Party out of the London Assembly.
The walkabout was led by Shmuel Davidsohn of Chaverim youth group, and by Rabbi Michoel Biberfeld of Tottenham, and Rabbi Abraham Pinter, principal of the Yesodey Hatorah Girls High School in Hackney.
Joanne McCartney met with a number of South Tottenham residents and business owners, to hear and address some of their concerns. One issue of concern was housing. Speaking on this issue, Joanne said:
“During my time as GLA member for this area, I have been fighting hard to represent the specific needs of the orthodox Jewish community and have strongly argued for the need for more affordable housing for families. I welcome Ken Livingstone’s pledge in London’s Home Plan to build more homes that are suitable for large families.”
Joanne McCartney further celebrated the diversity that has made London a global centre of ideas and investment during the visit round a grocery shop on Fairview Road, the local voluntary ambulance service and a kosher butcher’s shop.
However, Joanne fears that the diverse communities that have become a feature of our capital are at risk from the far right British National Party who only need 5% of the vote to get one member onto the London Assembly (8% will give them two members and 11% three members).
Joanne McCartney, emphasised the need to vote to combat this threat. She stated that,
"It will be a travesty if right wing, racist, bigoted BNP Assembly members are elected to represent our vibrant and diverse city. We must all get out and vote on May 1st – and make sure our friends and families vote – so that the majority of Londoners overwhelm the far right. Your vote matters. It will determine the future of our city. “
David Lammy echoed her sentiments stating that,
“London is a place where we come together from many different backgrounds and we work together. This unity will be undermined if the BNP has a platform in the London Assembly from which to spread its messages of racism, division and hate. The BNP is a party with anti-Semitism at its core, and it has no place in Tottenham or London. It is imperative that the Jewish community votes on May 1st to combat this very real threat.”
Mr Lammy, a long-standing friend of the Jewish community, also addressed concerns regarding the recent exposure of Jewish schools in breach of the Government’s admissions code.
Speaking on this issue, David Lammy said,
“I am proud of the record of this Government in supporting Jewish schools, as demonstrated by our commitment to addressing pupil security in school spending. I will continue to support the hard work and achievement of Jewish schools and have passed on the views that I have heard to Jim Knight, Minister for Schools.”
